Okay. That version would get blown away by Foreman, Liston, would lose a decision to Frazier, probably lose to Ali.
I think the 96-97 vintage of Holy would fare better against the more powerful guys like Liston & Foreman, but do worse than the younger Holy against the likes of Ali & Holmes
That's EXACTLY what I'm saying Mo! We've spoke about this many times over the years mate. You know how highly I rate Holyfield. However I'm going with the consensus 'best' Holy around the time of the Douglas fight. I'm still confident with giving him at least a 40% chance of the win against anyone. Too much skill, speed, accuracy, stylistic versatility and resilience not to.
I got Evander beating Wlad, Vitali, Tyson, Dempsey, and Johnson. I got him losing to Lewis, Holmes, Foreman, Ali, and Marciano. Interstingly, I have all of the fights going the distance.
Meh great is ambiguos some call him great some dont. Was holy better at anything than previous against Tyson though?
I think he beats the following: vitali, wlad, holmes(!), Johnson, marciano, foreman, Dempsey. I think he loses to Lewis, Ali, Tyson (!). I reckon my only controversial picks might be the victory over Holmes and the loss to Tyson. Against Holmes I think he could actually outjab him at times, his jab isn't as good but he's quicker on hand and feet. When he's bouncing around pumping his jab not many in history are gonna land first. I also think holy is better at timing the counter right hand he had a nack of getting opponents walking onto it. I also think holy can mix his punches better in close. I'm basically saying I think that as complete as Holmes was, Holy was just that bit better. Given the fighting spirit of both this will end up being a war with back and forth head snapping. I just think holy has the edge as he'll get his shots off first more often than not. Against Tyson my pick is purely down to how highly I rate the way Tyson delivers his power shots. Holy is there to be hit and anyone there to be hit is gonna lose to Tyson imo unless they can deliver their power punches even better and Louis aside i can think of noone who can. quite importantly I think his frame is completely overlooked. He was small in his era but any era before, 6'2 and 215 solid muscle, he's considered a giant. I think a misconception of him being a small heavyweight is just that, a misconception. Maybe everyone else has always seen holy as this h2h beast but I know I sure didnt. However I've watched quite a lot of him tonight from earlier blistering combinations to pure will power and heart. He is a great great fighter. Beating guys like Rahman and Ruiz and Valuev this century is just icing on the cake.
He would give every heavyweight to ever live big problems. I probably have him top 5 as far as h2h'ness goes, after Lewis, Ali, Tyson, Holmes. Maybe even before Holmes.
Ali beats him, definitely. Louis beats him, probably. Lewis and Holmes I'd pick to edge him, but just, and not with much confidence in either pick. You'd have to say Bowe as well, but only on that rare 'best form' of Riddick's. At worst, he's 50/50 with everyone else, and not at all an easy go for anyone.
I agree he causes everyone problems. Frame wise he's small enough to have top class speed and mobility yet big enough to compete with the big boys. he also has the power to make anyone respect him I believe.
As Boxed Ears described him, "he's a near-perfect mix of technical know-how and nasty mother****er." You don't have an easy night with that, no matter who you are.